2. Variety of activities
that span the period
from December 12th
to December 24th.
The celebration are
the fusion of
indigenous and
Spanish traditions.
4. fiestas, which represent
Joseph and Mary's
arduous pilgrimage on
their way to Bethlehem,
and there are nine
posadas, from the 16 to
the 24 of December,
because they symbolize
Mary's nine months of
pregnancy
5. LA PIÑATA
A tradition that involves
breaking a star shaped papier-
mâché container full of sweets,
Mandarins, and small toys
A stick is used, and the piñata
is hung on a cord, which in
turn is moved around to make
it difficult for the person with
the stick
6. You will hear the parents and children
singing special Piñata songs including
a verse which says:
“no quiero oro
ni quiero plata
yo lo que quiero
es romper la piñata”
(“I don’t need gold, nor do I desire silver
All that I want is to break the piñata!” )
*******
"¡Dale, dale, dale,
no pierdas el tino,
porque si lo pierdes,
pierdes el camino,
Una, dos, tres!"
("Strike it, Strike it, Strike it,
don't lose your aim,
because if you lose it,
you won't find your way!
One, two, three!" )
7. PASTORELAS
The Pastorelas in
Mexico starts as
simple parables of the
struggle of good
against evil. The light,
humor-filled
pastorelas are
reenactments of the
shepherds' adoration
of the Christ Child
10. NACIMIENTO
Nativity scenes in
wood, clay, metal,
glass, wax, straw and
almost any material
you can think of, are
another rich
expression of popular
art
11. FLOR DE NOCHE BUENA
(Poinsettias)
native to Mexico
In Náhuatl they were
called Cuitlaxochitl or
star flowers
in Spanish they are
known as Noche
Buena
12. NOCHE BUENA
24th December
Celebration of a late-night Misa de
Gallo (Rooster's Mass)
Modern influences have introduced the
Christmas tree and Santa Claus
Opening of gifts
Piñatas and luces de Belen (sparklers)
Traditional Christmas supper
13. homemade tamales and atole (corn gruel)
or other regional dishes as well as
Romeritos (a herb) in Mole (a spicy
chocolate sauce) with shrimps and
potatoes; and Bacalao - cod served a la
vizcaina, a Basque dish. The traditional
dessert is colación, a mixture of candies in
syrup. Ponche (a hot fruit punch), sidra
(sparkling cider) or other spirits are served
for the holiday brindis (toast).
14. NAVIDAD
(Christmas day)
A large reunion
Mean meal around three o’clock in the
afternoon, what it is known as
“recalentado”, because the Christmas
meal is reheated from the previous night
15. AÑO NUEVO
31st December - 1st January
Big party, is ushered in with an
abundance of noise, of wonderful
fireworks and hundreds of skyrockets.
Friends and families celebrate with
huge bonfires, music, food and
dancing
Custom: 12 grapes at midnight, each
one on the strike of the bell, for good
luck in each one of the following twelve
months
family toasts with apple cider and start
to eat (supper is the same as the
Christmas)
16. DIA DE REYES
6th January
Twelfth Night, Epiphany, Three Kings
Day, January 6th
The tradition in Mexico for Dia de
Reyes, Kings Day, is for children to
leave their shoes outside the door so
they can be filled with gifts from the
Magi (Three Kings: Melchior, Gaspar
and Baltazar), commemorating the
gifts carried by the them to the Christ
Child
Eating the traditional: “Rosca de
Reyes”
17. Special bread made for the occasion in the form of a crown, decorated with
dried fruits and hiding in its midst one or several little dolls
The guest who finds the doll (representing the infant Jesus) in their slice of
Rosca give a party on February 2nd, Candelaria, with tamales and atole for
all.
